Family business Anderson to change its name

One of Scotland’s largest family-owned businesses is changing its name after 80 years as it broadens its activities and geographic reach.

Anderson says there is capacity for more growth. Picture: Contributed

SAH (Sam Anderson Holdings) is being re-branded The Anderson Group following its transition over the past decade from being a Scottish haulage specialist to a broader based UK-wide firm with a range of other business interests.

The move comes as the group’s latest accounts reveal an increase in turnover of 37.4 per cent to £217.7 million in 2014, making it one of the top 500 privately owned companies in Scotland.

The firm has grown from its Newhouse base and now employs more than 500 staff at operations across the UK.

While the company is still involved in haulage its core business now is Northside Truck and Van, which it acquired in 2005. This is the UK’s largest Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle supplier and sold 5,726 vehicles last year across seven showrooms in the north of England. The third element of the group is a property rental business.

Chief executive and third-generation family member Irvine Anderson said: “We have expanded considerably over the last decade through acquisition and organic growth.

“However, I believe the business has further to go. We began with four showrooms at Northside and now have seven and that business continues to outperform most of its peers. I believe that there is room for more acquisitions in the coming years.”

Chairman Fergus Leitch has more than 40 years’ experience with Scania and Mercedes-Benz.